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Mojo Dean Muhtadi from Paragon Talent Group: “There is a lot of potential to make a positive difference”
Former Mojo Rawley’s return to pro wrestling could not have come at a better time.
In the one year since his release by WWE, Dean “Mojo” Mohtadi has only worked in one match. That number will rise to two on Saturday, as Muhadi Big Damo – former NXT’s Killian Dane – wrestles with the inaugural WES show in Nottingham, England.
“I can’t sit around anymore,” said Al-Muhtadi, who remained dexterous while training at Shawn Spears and Flat Bucks Wrestling School at Shawn Spears. “I’m happy and ready to get back in the ring, and it was great working with two friends, who know my strengths and my weaknesses, to get me back in the game.”
Al-Muhtadi is not satisfied with returning his distinctive brand of enthusiasm to the industry. Along with his close friend Steve Kay, he also co-founded a new management company, Paragon Talent Group. It is designed to prolong and enhance the careers of professional wrestlers by building brand marketing deals, increasing name identity and value, and negotiating deals with all major wrestling organizations.
“I founded Paragon Talent Group with the goal of showing the world what professional wrestlers can do outside of the professional wrestling bubble,” says Muhtadi. “It’s all about creating brand deals and lasting partners, and showing the world the value of professional wrestlers.”
Al-Muhtadi already represents over 50 former wrestlers in WWE, and has a unique lens in his view. He played collegiate football in Maryland, where he also earned an MBA. Far exceeding expectations after transferring from Division III Christopher Newport University, he was not selected in the NFL Draft but did get a taste of life in the Pro during short stints with the Packers and Cardinals.
Muhtadi never broke the play-day roster, but the lessons he learned from football were the ones he brought with him to WWE and acting, with a role in Snake-eyes. His nine-year career with WWE ended quietly following his release in the spring of 2021, and all of these experiences helped forge a sharp and creative mindset with an essential foundation for defending talent.
“This is an opportunity to raise the level of professional wrestlers,” Muhtadi says. “That’s why we started the company. There was a need for it. It’s gratifying to see the impact we’ve already had. Paragon gave over $2 million to our clients in the first year. Our jobs don’t last forever, so we need to be smart and get the most out of it.” of our chances.”
Thriving on many different platforms, including hosting a weekday show for TMZ SportsAl-Muhtadi still has a lot to prove in the ring. Optimistic, intense and full of energy, she last wrestled earlier this spring in Obsessive dream, fundraising for the Down Syndrome Foundation in Florida. That was his first match after leaving WWE, and it would have likely happened much sooner had he not dealt with a serious case of COVID-19.
“My lungs were badly beaten,” says Muhtadi. “It got scary. For months, every breath I took was an active process. And it was early Covid so there wasn’t a really effective treatment plan.
“Slowly, I ramped up my training, but I did it smartly. At first I planned to get back into proper position and with the highest bidder, but Obsessive dream It came along. It was a great opportunity to raise money and make a real impact. I was honored to be a part of it.”
At only 35 years old, Al-Muhtadi has not yet reached the pinnacle of his prime in professional wrestling. Has a chance to capture the attention of the industry with outstanding performance in WES Opening Show on Saturday.
“This will provide more representation and legitimacy for the industry,” says Muhtadi. “And I have to make sure my gas tank is full, so I’m ready to keep up with Big Damo. He’s an incredibly talented wrestler. I’m in London now, I’m ready, and this is exactly the challenge I need.”
The past decade in wrestling set the stage for Muhtadi’s next chapter. After the WWE Championship, including unforgettable WrestleMania With Rob Gronkowski, he now plans to set the industry on fire in a very different way.
“I’m still going to make an impact in the ring, but I also want to be someone who protects professional wrestlers with Paragon,” Muhtadi says. “There are so many possibilities to make a positive difference.”
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The Week (Online) in Wrestling
- Last week’s match “Blood and Courage” dynamite It was visible. Claudio Castagnoli’s Cesaro Swing performance on Chris Jericho above the cage was incredibly tense. Congratulations to all involved.
- I’m surprised Claudio didn’t turn on AEW Champion Jon Moxley. The roster is full of talent, and Claudio needs a program that will keep him in the main event. And with all due respect to Brody King, who won the battle royal last week, there is no comment to disbelieve that he will take the title from Mox.
- If you love pro wrestling but haven’t watched the Usos – Street Profits tag match from money in the bankI can’t give it a higher recommendation. The Usos continue to elevate their legacy, and it is a pleasure to watch Montez Ford steadily thrive in the future of professional wrestling.
- Logan Paul has Signed with WWE. It would be great to see how far he can climb the list by next year WrestleMania.
- Alan Angels of the Dark Order has left AEW, and he will be in this next must-watch match with Impact Wrestling.
A closer look at the Money in the Bank winners
This weekend’s winners money in the bank Ladder matches were Liv Morgan and Theory. Morgan’s possession of the bag was brief, as she cashed in later that night on Ronda Rousey to win the SmackDown Women’s Championship. The theory will have a much longer run with the Money in the Bank bag.
Internally, there are high hopes that Theory’s run with the bag will be similar to Seth Rollins after winning the same contract in 2014. Rollins was only 28 years old at the time, and was on his own after turning on fellow Shield members Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose. It became “Mr. Money in the Bank” and was eventually cashed after nearly a year in WrestleMania 31Winning the title in an amazing and unforgettable way.
The theory, which turns 25 this summer, could make a strong match. But the odds surrounding him as the winner of Money in the Bank are disappointing. His rise to the top of the card feels like a boost given to The Miz before he cashed in on his Money in the Bank contract to defeat Randy Orton in 2010. It made Miz Champ feel compelled and rushed, similar to what we see with Theory.
Liv Morgan’s win in Money in the Bank was much more rewarding. She has been with WWE since 2017, but has never had the chance to have meaningful back-to-back stories on TV. The crowd erupted when she won the match, the same reaction when she dethroned Ronda Rousey for the title later that evening. And that sounds different than cash from Nikki ASH a year ago. Nikki won the bag in money in the bankThen she defeated Charlotte Flair for the belt the following night raw. Unfortunately, her title win meant more than her title, and she dropped the belt again the following month summerslam. This is the predicament that WWE will need to avoid with Morgan.
Morgan has to wrestle a Russian in summerslamAnd she has to hit her. This ending could give Morgan a legitimate chance to become a major star. She has a compelling charisma and style in the ring, and she can also interrupt entertaining promotions. Morgan has the skill to become this year’s Rising Star. And hit a Russian in summerslam It would help bring Rossi one step closer to becoming a heel.
Rousey shares distinctive similarities with Hulk Hogan from 1995. Hogan was a comforting but no-nonsense champion at that point in World Championship Wrestling. He’s always felt weird, as his WWF style has always gone against the core of WCW. Similar Russian. Like Hogan was in WCW, she is a WWE stranger coming from the mixed martial arts world. She was a pioneer in the UFC, but she tells us how the crowd exploded when Morgan hit her for the belt in money in the bank. If she ever turns heels, Rousey can make for a very memorable tour of the WWE.
While Theory is not in a position to challenge Roman Reigns, there is plenty of potential going forward for Morgan and Rosie.
Tweet of the week
It’s hard to capture the joy of a Polaroid shot with your favorite athlete (I had, many moons ago, my brother’s side with Bruins’ Glen Wesley), but that’s probably amazing.
Justin Barrasso can be reached at JBarrasso@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @Justin Parasoo.
